---
title: Configuring OpenVPN To Run Automatically On System Startup
canonical: https://openvpn.net/community-docs/configuring-openvpn-to-run-automatically-on-system-startup/
product: Community Docs
---

# Configuring OpenVPN To Run Automatically On System Startup

The lack of standards in this area means that most OSes have a different way of configuring daemons/services for autostart on boot. The best way to have this functionality configured by default is to install OpenVPN as a package, such as via RPM on Linux or using the Windows installer.

## Linux

If you install OpenVPN via an RPM or DEB package on Linux, the installer will set up an **initscript**. When executed, the **initscript** will scan for **.conf** configuration files in **/etc/openvpn**, and if found, will start up a separate OpenVPN daemon for each file.

## Windows

The Windows installer will set up a Service Wrapper, but leave it turned off by default. To activate it, go to **Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services**, select the **OpenVPN service**, right-click on **properties**, and set the **Startup Type** to **Automatic**. This will configure the service to start automatically during the next reboot.

When started, the OpenVPN Service Wrapper will scan the **\\Program Files\\OpenVPN\\config** folder for **.ovpn** configuration files, starting a separate OpenVPN process on each file.

---

Prev: [Starting Up the VPN and Testing for Initial Connectivity](https://openvpn.net/community-docs/starting-up-the-vpn-and-testing-for-initial-connectivity.md)
Next: [Controlling a Running OpenVPN Process](https://openvpn.net/community-docs/controlling-a-running-openvpn-process.md)
Index: https://openvpn.net/community-docs/llms.txt